Hey, I got my first kite about 2 weeks ago. It's a Beemer 2.5 and I've been flying it as much as the wind allows. The only question I have is about winding up the lines. Are there any tricks to winding up the lines so they don't get twisted? I spend a lot of time just getting the lines untwisted before I can launch it. Right now I've been winding them on the handles. Right side on the right handle etc.. but the power and the brake lines seem to get twisted together. This is so much fun though. My kids were laughing watching me trying not too get pulled around too much out in the filed at the park. Damn sore after the first few times too. good workout.

Scott,
Don't get frustrated no matter how much your kids laugh. If they continue to laugh let them try to fly the kite it'll be the last time they laugh at ya You should be able to get a kite line winder at your nearby kite shop. They help quite a bit. Other then that suggestion I'm sorry I can't offer more help. We all go thru the pains of untangling to some degree. Before having a kite winder I use to wrap the lines around both handles, as oppose to doing the right side on the right handles and the left on the left.

Glad you're enjoying the kite regardless!
~Joe

Thanks Joe, I'll look for one. It's not frustrasting at all. I'm having a ball. I never imagined a kite could have that much pull. Everyone on this board is right about starting small with around a 2.5 meter. First it was just fun in light wind learning how to keep it up now and finding the different areas where it pulls more. Now I've had it in some stronger winds and it's blast.

Best way I've found to wind the lines is to have the kite layed out on the ground, put some weight on the trailing edge, kite sitting on it's back so it can't catch any wind, put both the handles together, hold in the right hand and wrap the lines up as you head to the kite, be sure to keep some tension on the lines as you wind. The trick comes in the unwinding, you have to hold the handles in the same hand, same way you wound them up and unwind them with the other hand, reversing the motion you used to wrap them up. If you let them slide off the end of the handles you'll get quite a few twists, the way I do it, you usually get 1 twist on the lines, you can spin both the handles together to get rid of the twist.

When doing this it's key to leave the lines stuck to the handles and kite.when you get to the kite, you fold the kite and roll the last of the kite around the handles.

Bit easier way...
First - Bag your kite.
Why pile rocks or sand when you can just put it in the bag?
There. Done. No blowing or flapping.

Right-handed?
Hold both handles in your left hand (left and right correct)
With your right hand, reach over the top lines and grab both bottom lines.
Bring them up and around the top of your handles, clockwise.
Do one full-wrap.
After you wrap once, as you cross over the top lines, add them to the bottoms and continue in a figure-8 pattern around the tops and bottoms of your handles.
When you reach the first leads off the kite (usually the bottoms) wrap your lines around the handles until you're up to the bridles.
This wrap locks the lines onto your handles.

Open the bag, squish the kite (and bridles) to one side and slide the handles down into the bag.

Next Time:
Open the bag, withdraw the handles, close the bag and put it on the ground.
Unwrap the lines in a mirror-image of how you put them on.

If you wrap clock-wise, unwrap counter clock-wise.
Have the handles the same as when you wound the lines on.

When you get your lines out, you might have one or two twists in your set.
Usually the same direction every time.
Holding both handles together, unwrap them.
Seperating your handles moves the wrap towards the kite.

Start to notice the seperate steps you use when dealing with your lines.

The magic is in the Mirror-Image.


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

if your having troublewith twists try para packing, its extremely quick and easy and you get no twists. First put the bridles in the middle of the kite and fold it up and put it into the bag, then walk back to your handles and make a small pocket in the middle of the folded kite in the bag, and just stuff the lines into there until they are all in, then put the handles in the bag, but not in the same bit where all the lines are, put them down the side of the kite or something. it looks like a mess in there but ive never had any tangles by doing it, and thats the only way ive ever packed away.

Thanks guys. I never thought about putting the kite in the bag first! No more blowing around while I'm winding or unwinding! Too bad it's been dead calm here and 90+ degrees or I would try it tonight.

Parapacking works, thats the way I do it, just remember when you pull them back out pull out the handles and peg them down to the ground then walk with the whole kite and bag away from the handles to stretch the lines out, (just like a parachute opening ,lines out then shute opens) havent had any tangles yet.......

I used to figure 8 them on the handles, works just as well but takes a little longer

mirror image is the key like everyone says.....